Kostiantyn Pochtar, better known as Postman, began his musical odyssey in Kyiv, crafting intimate ‘city folk’ songs with just a guitar and harmonica. His early works captured the everyday wonders of his hometown’s urban life, offering a raw, acoustic sound that reflected his surroundings. One of those early songs, ‘Kyivski Vulytsi’ (The Streets of Kyiv), became a big hit and has since been considered by many as an unofficial hymn of Ukraine’s capital.
Over the years, Postman ventured into uncharted musical territories. New soundscapes, drifting between mellow psychedelia and art pop, became richer and more complex, redefining traditional folk music and offering listeners a journey through familiar yet new terrains.
In the latest album ‘Still Life’ Postman skillfully blends the soothing acoustic notes of the guitar with the pulse of electronic beats and synthesizers. Drawing inspiration from tropicalia, early David Bowie, and impressionist aesthetics, the songs have a painterly quality, resembling soft brushstrokes in pastel colors on a canvas. These compositions capture the fragility and fleeting beauty of existence, portraying people performing their pirouettes in this eternal uncertainty.
So, where does the name ‘Postman’ come from? It’s a direct translation of Kostiantyn’s surname ‘Pochtar’ from Ukrainian into English.
